Flexible lubricant-container



J. F. M'AclNDOE.

FLEXIBLE LUBRICANT CONTAINER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-29.1919.

1,379, 197. Patented May 24,1921.

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Jbk/LFM fndob UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLEXIBLE LUBRICANT-CONTAINER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed liovember 29, 1919. Serial No. 341,525.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that JOHN FRANKLIN Mac- INoon, a citizen of the United States, residin at Philadelphia, in the county of Phila de phia and State of Pennsylvania, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flexible Lubricant-Containers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in grease or other lubricant cans, tubes or containers.

An object of the invention is to provide a neat, compact and economical container whereby grease, or other semi-solid lubricant, can be forced or fed therefrom into grease cups. 1

With this and other objects in view my invention consists of the new and novel construction and combination described in the specifications attached hereto and made a part hereof, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the preferred form of container, the upper portion thereof being in section, illustrating a threaded stopper or plug in the outlet thereof;

Fig. 2 is likewise a front elevational view with the upper portion in section, illustrating an unthreaded cap or plug in position in the outlet thereof;

Fig. 3 is also a front elevational view, partly in section, the container being inverted, illustrating same applied to the inlet of the conventional type of grease cup and feeding grease therein, and

4 is a similar view to Fig. 3, illustrat- Fi ing the grease cup filled.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in-detail the character A denotes a tube or container for grease or other semi-solid lubricant, constructed of a suitable flexible material, preferably lead or a kindred metal, or it ma be made of paper or fiber, providing sue paper or fiber be of the proper consistency to insure an oil tight tube.

The said tube A is formed with a rounded or convex head B. An outlet or opening C is provided in the said tube A by turning the convex head B inwardly and downwardly on each side, substantially in the center thereof, as illustrated particularly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. tions of the head thus turned inwardly,

The pordesignated by the characters D, form flanges and may be female threaded as in Fig. 1, or

plain as in Fig. 2. y I

A stopper or cap plug E, male threaded to engage the female threads on the flanges D is provided to seal the outlet C, or a cork or plug F of any suitable material, without threads, may be utilized for the same purpose. The said flanges'or turned in portions D need only extend downwardly in the tube A to a sufficient depth to accommodate the threads of the stopper E. If the form of stopper F is used there is ample space forl it to extend below the depth of said flanges if required.

I In Figs. 3 and 4 I have illustrated the container A in position to force or feed lubricant into the conventional type of a com ression grease cup G, secured to a bear- Fo realize the full utility of the container in this connection the said grease cup G should not have a diameter greater than the diameter of the head B of the container A,

Patented May 24, 1921.

which as before said is convex in form,

although it can be made fiat, or nearly so.

In operation: The stopper is removed from the container and the convex head B thereof enters the open end of the grease cup G roportionately as the diameter of the cup re ates to the said convex head B. The-end of said tube A acts as a stop valve and when suflicient lubricant is in the tube the pressure created thereby .is instantly felt and pressure on the tube is relaxed and the said tube is thus kept in contact with the open end of the cup G. In removing same from this contact the said tube A is glven a rotary or wiping movement in order to leave a smooth, concaved surface to the lubricant in the cup, instead of being withdrawn straightout, as is the present 'custom,whereby an indefinite and uneven amount of lubricant is left in the cup G. form prevents the flooding of the cup G which so universally occurs when these cups are filled by the. means now in v0 e, and further it provides the space I for t e plunger of the usual type of spring compression grease cup. This plunger space is necessa and most manufacturers of grease cups ca. 1 attention to the filling of the cups in some such statement as do not fill cups level full as-space must be left for the lunger, etc.

The present method of filling grease cups is inconvenient, soils the hands, wastes lubri- The head B being convex in,

cant and endangers the contents of the tube or container when the lid is ofi or the stopper out during the cup filling process. With the method now in' use it is necessary to use either the finger, a piece of wood conveniently shaped, a knife blade or other metal substitute in order to transfer the grease from the container to the cup during which time the contents of the container are endanered from sand or other particles of grit or dirt being blown therein or otherwise gainin access thereto.

rease to be thusused is usually put up in one, two, five and up to ten pound cans for average automobile use requiring an outlay proportionately to the quantity obtained and this outlay represents grease and container cost, but does not include the convenience, cleanliness and economy which are obtained by the use of the present device.

Another feature of my device is that it may be applied to a grease cup in any position that such cup may occupy on an automobile, aeroplane, motor boat and the like. With the large number of grease cups on the average automobile and the various positions in which they are placed thereon, this is a feature of considerable novelty.

It is understood that various modifications ma be made to the form of container described, not involving invention, which are to beincluded within'the scope of the hereinafter appended claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A collapsible lubricant container, for use in filling grease cups, provided with a convex head engageable with the top of a grease cup and adapted to project thereinto so as to form a smooth surface to the lubricant filledinto said cup and to leave a plunger space at the top of said cup free of lubricant, said head being provided substantially centrally with an inturned cross-sectionally annular flange providing a discharge openilng, and a closure removably engaging said ange.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN. FRANKLIN MAcINDOE. 

